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When can we omit the relitive pronoun?

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Chrismlangan  #398309  Mon, 30 Jul 07 07:19 AM
Are we always allowed to omit the relitive pronoun when it is not the subject of the clause?
  
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Cool Breeze  #398356  Mon, 30 Jul 07 10:08 AM
Hi CL

There is some disagreement on the omission of relatives, but a relative can usually be omitted in a restrictive relative clause (= no comma) in the following cases:

1. the relative is an object: He is the man [who/whom/that] I saw there.
2. a preposition is at the end of the relative clause: He is the man [who/whom/that] I came with.
3. the relative is modified by the verb to be: He isn't yet the man [who/that] he will be.

Some writers occasionally leave out the relative even when it is a subject, but it may be a good idea to avoid this usage:
There is somebody at the door [who] wants to talk to you.

Cheers
CB
  
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